Denmark Orders Troops to ‘Shoot First’ Against Any US Attempt to Seize Greenland
The Danish Ministry of Defence has directed its military personnel to adopt a “shoot first, ask questions later” stance if the United States attempts to take Greenland by force, according to reports.
The instruction, reported by Danish newspaper Berlingske, allows soldiers to open fire without waiting for specific commands in the event of an invasion attempt on the autonomously governed Arctic territory, which remains under Danish sovereignty.
The policy draws from a 1952 Cold War-era regulation that requires Danish forces to “immediately engage in combat” against any foreign incursion, even if commanders are unaware of a formal declaration of war or ongoing hostilities, as cited in a report by The Independent.
The rule originated from Denmark’s experience during the 1940 Nazi invasion, when German troops rapidly overran Copenhagen and other key areas after Danish forces were unable to mount effective resistance. The lesson led to the establishment of this standing “shoot first” order, which has remained active ever since.
Why Trump is pursuing Greenland
President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that the US requires control of Greenland for national security reasons, particularly after recent US military operations in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Despite consistent rejection from both Danish and Greenlandic leaders, Trump has continued to emphasise the island’s strategic importance. “We need Greenland from a national security standpoint. It’s very strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” he told reporters in a recent exchange.
Denmark is a NATO ally, yet when pressed by The New York Times on whether preserving the alliance or acquiring Greenland was his greater priority, Trump replied: “It may be a choice.”
US officials hold talks with Danish and Greenlandic representatives
As pressure from the Trump administration intensifies, senior White House aides met on Thursday with Denmark’s Ambassador to the US, Jesper Møller Sørensen, and Greenland’s chief representative in Washington, Jacob Isbosethsen, according to Reuters. The meeting took place with officials from the National Security Council.
Read More: Denmark’s Warning To Trump; Tensions Soar Over Greenland
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also scheduled to discuss the matter with Danish counterparts.
Greenland’s leadership has firmly opposed any US takeover. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen recently criticised Trump’s statements linking Greenland to the Venezuela operation, calling the comparison “disrespectful”.